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Immigration Dept 'gathering intelligence’ on VI's illegal expats - Ian B. Penn

- Chief Immigration Officer says new systems will automatically flag aliens
Chief Immigration Officer, Mr Ian B. Penn has dodged an opportunity to set the record straight, on how many illegal immigrants are currently residing in the Virgin Islands, the reason for this he said, is because the department is continuously gathering data. Photo: Facebook
Mr Penn said VI’s new Border Management System would, however, would a part of the solution to getting concrete figures and aid in the management of work permits and other immigration issues. Photo: VINO/File
Mr Penn said VI’s new Border Management System would, however, would a part of the solution to getting concrete figures and aid in the management of work permits and other immigration issues. Photo: VINO/File
BAUGHERS BAY, Tortola, VI – Chief Immigration Officer Mr Ian B. Penn has said the Immigration Department is continuously gathering data on illegal persons in the territory.

Speaking on the Tuesday, December 1, 2020, edition of the ‘Honestly Speaking’ radio show with host Claude O. Skelton-Cline, Mr Penn said while he could not give a solid figure as to how many persons are in the Virgin Islands illegally but maintained that the department knows who the individuals are.

No exact figures to mislead public - Mr Penn 

“I will not put my finger on an exact figure or number… we do have a lot of intelligence on a number of persons… we are dealing with them on a daily basis, as we speak we gather in information and intelligence,” he told radio moderator Skelton-Cline and the listening audience.

When asked to provide an approximate figure, Mr Penn who heads the department said out of fear of being misleading, he would rather not give a figure.

“If I do that… I don't want to be misleading, so I will just say that we have information on a number of persons that are out there who are not in compliance with the immigration laws,” he said.

Q1 2021 for New Border Management System 

Mr Penn said VI’s new Border Management System would, however, would be a part of the solution to getting concrete figures and aid in the management of work permits and other immigration issues.

“When persons renewing [work permits] or coming into the country new, then that information will be entered into that system and therefore we would be able to have information on persons who are in the territory, who are legal, who have overstayed”

With the implementation time set for the first quarter of 2021, Mr Penn said with the touch of a button the immigration department would be able to access data on all expats currently in the territory.

33 Responses to “Immigration Dept 'gathering intelligence’ on VI's illegal expats - Ian B. Penn”

  • Excel anyone? (02/12/2020, 07:43) Like (49) Dislike (5) Reply
    What a joke! One simple excel spreadsheet could easily tell you how many illegals overstayed their time. When a person gets a stamp it has a date, try keeping a record. Does any one of these govt agencies even use a computer? Were not talking about huge numbers, is maybe 30k people on the whole flipping island and that includes belongers. Step up your game for crying out loud!
  • padna (02/12/2020, 07:52) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    Tell us when you "continuously" gather them and continuously deport them In order to cover the additional cost involve ,increase visa fees of the habitual offending countires. What good is gathering intelligence and putting it in your pocket countries. An additional deterrence is publishing their names and their faces so that potential employers would not be unknowingy aiding and facilitating this offense.
  • @ excel anyone (02/12/2020, 08:18) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    You have a point which you would have thought they would have in place. Do note that a lot of them entered illegally, so they not easily tracked.
  • concern (02/12/2020, 08:37) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    Illegal is Not only those they overstate on the record but also those that come through the wide open border windows.
  • wow (02/12/2020, 08:38) Like (27) Dislike (2) Reply
    AYO TALK TOO MUCH. WORK IN SILENCE.
  • Nice (02/12/2020, 08:49) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    For example electricy know if someone have an outstanding balance d bank know s Water know because it's there in d record so what u want to tell me people just comming into the country and there is no record come on
  • Rubber Duck (02/12/2020, 08:51) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is the same shower who can’t get the simple portal working so don’t hold your breath.
  • ASAP (02/12/2020, 08:53) Like (9) Dislike (19) Reply

    Send them island people home

  • Nick Santo (02/12/2020, 10:43) Like (12) Dislike (2) Reply
    These coments about sending back to the Islands are so cold , my god aren't theses empty apartments and re claimed houses teaching us that we need support from each other?Ancestors weeping....
  • Citizen (02/12/2020, 10:48) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    what an odd statement. we dont need data. you know who is illegal. we need them put on a plane
  • RALPH CRAMDON (02/12/2020, 11:47) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    THAT IS PURE BULL SHIDLY. SO IF THAT IS THE CASE YOU GOT INTELLIGENCE ON THAT, WHY NOT FORM A ICE TASK FORCE TO GO FROM VILLAGE TO VILLAGE PICKING UP THE ONES THAT IS ILLEGAL IN THE COUNTRY. START WITH DOWN SCB THEN MAHE YOUR WAY UP HG AND JB
  • ReX FeRal (02/12/2020, 12:06) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    "Mr Penn said while he could not give a solid figure as to how many persons are in the Virgin Islands illegally but maintained that the department knows who the individuals are."
    IF YOU KNOW WHO THEY ARE WHAT IS YOUR DEPARTMENT DOING? ARE YOU COMPOUNDING OFFENSES FOR A GRIND OR MONEY? STEP TO HELL UP AND ENFORCE THE LAWS.
  • June Bug (02/12/2020, 12:08) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    Walter's and Hill were the best at gathering intelligence back in the day.
  • Ghost (02/12/2020, 12:23) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Why are some of us “ragging” on the Immi Dept; not everyone knows how to effectively gather pertinent information or work with Excel or Spreadsheet.. what we need to do is give the Dept. some credit for trying to improve it’s services.. and can we “PLEASE” stop with the island people and sending them back home nonsense:. Question: the other day wasn’t there an article about us joining with our Caribbean neighbors re: possible food supply?.. We need each other ..
    • Jack and Jill (02/12/2020, 22:21) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      @Ghost l totally agree with you. With the Island people nonsense. How about people from the Philippines, there is a large amount here, the Europeans. This coward whoever he or she is don't have the balls to say send them home...( Remove that slave chain from your minds...).FOOL


  • @guest (02/12/2020, 12:36) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Give me a one way ticket. Going home ah Africa go look it. In ah Babylon ah suffer like dog. Waan go back ah mi yard. Please now before the COVID19 Vaccine passport is required.
  • Puleease! (02/12/2020, 12:56) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    What you guys were supposed to be gathering intel about are those expats that come here with rapsheets a mile long in their home country and other countries.
  • H (02/12/2020, 14:09) Like (3) Dislike (3) Reply
    @ asap u saying send them home just so Trinidad use to behave u see what become of then now u go ahead sowing your seed u will feel d after blow
  • K (02/12/2020, 15:20) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    @ sas
  • M (02/12/2020, 15:25) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    @ asap remember most of your produce come from d island as u will say careful u will have to go back to Mack & cheese
  • Sabrina (02/12/2020, 16:12) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    Well Locals are the ones allowing illegals to live on their properties just to get money every month. Ask around, not easy to miss them. Fat Hogs Bay, Long Look, Josiah's Bay, Greenland, Parham Town...East end is full of them. Just look at all of them every weekend hanging out. Come check their papers!
    • concern (02/12/2020, 16:50) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Well it is very sad that the immigration department only tracks illegal persons during working days..and most of the illegal persons have friends in high places and in the government,,so before a raid could happen the illegals would already be prepared..infact whenever they decide to leave at the airport they should be charge..because most of them are here working that is why every weekend they could afford to be at the bars and clubs spending..when they arrive at the airport they should have a address where they are going to stay..
  • R (02/12/2020, 17:00) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    Is Tortola street pave with gold please remember that earth is the lord and his fullness there of and thay that dwell there in
  • Jah Bless (02/12/2020, 21:19) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Yes if u ilegal send them back to there be love country yes...but it look like that u all main focus is to fight down your own black brothers and sisters.....


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